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Puttin' Out the Cat

There are certain disciplines that creativity asks of us. In my life, one that begs for attention is taking adequate time for myself to reflect, to visualize and to imagine all the possibilities I am grappling with at any given moment regarding any given problem. Just like children, our minds need open space to run free. If our lives are too frantic or our hearts too burdened, there may be no room or time available for the creative process to weave its intricate web. When we make a conscious decision to creatively enhance our lives, we may need to do some soul searching to identify the culprit, or culprits that have been holding us back. It just might take cleaning out the clutter, sorting through the chaos, Puttin' Out the Cat.

I like to visualize my brain as a juggler. As I begin to consider a new concept or problem, I toss it into the juggler's hands and trust that he is able to add it to the assortment of objects he keeps in constant motion. But what if I have a cat to put out -- a hectic life, anger or resentment regarding things I cannot change from my past or problems or individuals I should be dealing with in the present? The juggler may become disoriented or distracted and drop everything. My juggler has mind-boggling potential. I just have to learn how to give him space and time to manipulate all the objects at once.

There are moments in our lives when we may feel vulnerable or confused yet we thrive because someone close is there to lift our spirits and inspire us to the challenges at hand. It is of great consequence to have a support system ready to nurture and empower us during difficult times. Many have had the good fortune to grow up surrounded by positive, uplifting encouragement and love. Others of us have had our inner fire quelled by misled parents, teachers, friends or spouses who discourage, harness, reprimand, constantly correct or redirect our natural burning curiosity -- the essence of our creativity. It is that fire that heats up our imagination and motivation. When it is gone, we can easily be left injured or rendered powerless.

Most everyone lives with some kind of childhood trauma that marathons along with them into adulthood. Every parent, no matter how enlightened, makes mistakes. If we weigh ourselves down with resentment and blame toward those who have injured us, our course will become burdensome and slow and our well-being and creative spirit challenged at every turn. Making peace with our past can be a monumental challenge. But if we can break through the obstacles that are holding in negative energy, enlightenment is free to flow into all areas of life, bringing contentment, understanding and new creative possibilities.

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